Hello fellow woodworkers! I have incorporated some inlay into some of my projects over the years. The learning of the inlay process is what first drew me to the scroll saw. I have always been drawn to the illusion of two pieces of wood becoming one. If done correctly, it becomes a seamless mesh of the two species and in turn becomes a beautiful work of art.

I would like to know if there are any others that do (this type) of inlay. I understand that there are other types of inlay such as banding and the type that is recessed into the wood, but the type I am interested in goes all the way through the wood. If you do this type of work, I would like to start a discussion on the techniques used and the tools involved.

In posting this to the forum, I will say that I will be on vacation in Hawaii from Sept 29th thru October the 10th celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary with the love of my life. So,...if I do not respond until then, please understand. We have scrimped and saved for a long while and it is finally paying off. And what better occasion?

I’m not sure what you mean. I thought inlay did not go all the way through. Check out this project of mine. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/51439 pic 5Is this the type of work you are talking about?If so I would be happy to discuss my methods.Have a great vacation!Scott

First off, congratulations. You and your wife are to be commended. Maybe moreso your wife, for putting up with you. :) Oh, and I’m jealous. My wife and I want to go to Hawaii too. Maybe next year. Let us know about your trip when you get back.

I too have done some work that ends up a seamless mess of the two species that becomes a beautiful work of fart. Seriously, I would be very happy to join in a conversation discussing different techniques for obtaining the results you are looking for.

I think there is a fine line(pun intended) between Inlay, Marquetry, and Laminations. Sometimes the techniques used become a blur.

Are you sure you do not mean segmented? I have always considered inlay as a method of imbedding a piece of wood or material into a different piece of wood…but not all the way through. Segmenting is where you take different pieces of wood and put them together to form one piece…perhaps it’s just a matter of semantics but maybe a picture would describe the method you are interested in?

Mike,Gluing two boards makes an exciting results, here are some of the unfinished projects I have but I was able to do a board of parabolic ellipse waiting to become a tray. Here are one of the photo in my parabolic ellipse blog series.

Banding is also a challenging work that if inlayed it makes a box beautiful like below:

Jim Finn, you are exactly right. It is called “Double Bevel Inlay”. That I did not know. I usually get this done on my scroll saw by tilting the table and cutting the two pieces at the same time. This will allow on piece to fit into the other like a cork. See, I already learned something! Thanks you to everyone else also. Your input has taught me somethings as well. I would also like to thank you all for your well whishes on my anniversary! :-)

Keep the comments coming. I will check in on the forum when I get back. Take Care!!!